West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday (December 9, 2025) demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that he has insulted novelist Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay by calling him "Bankim da".

Addressing a rally in Cooch Behar district, Ms. Banerjee said the Prime Minister was not even born when the country achieved Independence and yet chose to address one of Bengal's greatest cultural icons casually.

"You did not even show him the minimum respect he deserves. You should apologise for this, to the nation," she said.

The flashpoint was Prime Minister's reference to the author during a discussion in Lok Sabha on Monday (December 8, 2025) to commemorate 150 years of the national song, Vande Mataram, written by Chattopadhyay.

TMC MP Saugata Roy objected to t

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